WTAMU’s College of Business Earns AACSB Accreditation

CANYON, Texas—The College of Business at West Texas A&M University has earned accreditation of its business degree programs by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Less than five percent of schools of business worldwide have earned this coveted mark of excellence.

AACSB is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. Accreditation by AACSB is considered the highest-level of business accreditation and is a multi-step process covering several years. WTAMU is now one of 655 business schools in 44 countries and territories that maintain AACSB Accreditation.

“AACSB congratulates West Texas A&M University and Dean Neil Terry on earning accreditation, and we welcome them into the family of AACSB-accredited business schools,” said John J. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “AACSB Accreditation represents the highest achievement for an educational institution that awards business degrees. Dean Terry and the faculty, directors and staff of West Texas A&M University are to be commended for their role in earning accreditation.”

The University’s College of Business began its accreditation process in 2007. The process involves rigorous internal review, evaluation and adjustment, and requires schools to develop and implement a plan to meet the AACSB Accreditation Standards. Those standards include a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement and curricula responsive to the needs of businesses. AACSB standards also require all accredited schools go through a peer review process every five years in order to maintain accreditation.

“Achievement of AACSB accreditation represents a major milestone for our College of Business and raises the bar for academic excellence at West Texas A&M University,” Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien, University president, said. “This achievement is the result of many years of hard work on the part of the faculty, staff and administration of the College, superb leadership within the College, and the tremendous support of alumni and friends of the College who make a difference in what is available for our business students. I commend those who worked so hard to make this happen and excited to see where this new chapter takes us in terms of preparing future generations of business graduates.”

Highlights of the AACSB Peer Review Team Report regarding WTAMU include the following commendation of strengths: • Faculty members are highly dedicated and committed to student learning. Faculty members exhibit a high degree of collegiality, and the senior faculty provides strong and productive leadership; • The College should be commended for its unusually successful Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter, which draws membership from across the student body; • In alignment with its mission focus on the Texas Panhandle, WTAMU College of Business is very engaged with the regional business and economic community. Evidence includes the strong business leadership found on the Advisory Board, Enterprise Center, and the participation of college faculty, staff and students in development of the region.; and • The College of Business enjoys strong support from the central administration in its efforts toward quality and continuous improvement.

“Achieving accreditation from AACSB International signifies to all stakeholders of the College of Business that the school offers high-quality business programs, and that processes are in place to ensure continuous improvement in the future,” said Dr. Neil Terry, dean of the College of Business. “We still have several goals we hope to achieve as a business program in the next few years but earning AACSB accreditation is an important milestone that is critical to our advancement. Students and alumni can be proud of earning a degree from an institution that has taken its place among other worldwide leaders in business education. Earning AACSB is also a testimony to the extraordinary generosity of the Texas Panhandle community and program’s benefactors, which have established professorships, scholarships, internships and named classrooms in support of our continuous improvement efforts.”

The WTAMU College of Business is home to more than 1,200 students and 41 faculty members. The College offers both baccalaureate and masters’ programs and is committed to teaching excellence.

—WTAMU—

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Osama Butt on
7.31.2012

I am proud of WT. I must admit that it has the best faculty. I consider my study duration at WT the best time of my life.
Class of 2002.

Sam on
7.30.2012

Good job WTAMU!

Jose Rodriguez on
7.28.2012

As a military veteran having served our Armed Services with over 20+ years of honorable service, I'm very proud to be enrolled in such an excellent College of Business program at West Texas A&M University. After having successfully completed over 30 semester business hours at WT, without question, the quality, dedication and professionalism of all WT Business professors is truly commendable and is one, if not the top reason why I continue to take business classes at WT pursuing a higher level of learning. I'm very proud and honored to have the ability to be a student at WTAMU.